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Friday, 25 July 2014

An Interview with Annie Lyons

The lovely Annie Lyons is the first ever Carina author to be published in paperback!! I caught up with her to chat about Not Quite Perfect...

1) Firstly, congratulations for being the first
Carina author to make the transition for ebook to print; what was your reaction
when you found out?

Thank you very much and also for hosting me today. I had known for a while that it was a possibility so it
wasn’t a shock but it was fantastic when I finally got the news.

To be honest, it didn’t sink in properly until I walked
into Asda and saw it on the shelf nestled between Bridget Jones and Stephen
King. Now THAT was a special moment…

2) In Not Quite Perfect, both Emma and Rachel face struggles in
their relationships. What do you think brings a relationship to life in a
novel, and is there key to making it realistic?

I think dialogue is key for me. I spend quite a long time
thinking about situations and what the person would actually say to make it as
realistic as possible. I am also extraordinarily nosy and my husband gets a bit
cross with me when we’re out in public because I am invariably listening to
someone else’s conversation instead of him!

3) In some ways, the two sisters represent two
different routes in life, but each ends up making similar decisions at key
moments. What do you think this says about people in general?

Emma and Rachel have very different lives but the same
background and the relationship with their parents is key to the choices they
make. I think this is true for lots of people. You think you’re not influenced
by your past and your family experience but it’s there, underpinning everything
you do.

4) At the opening of the novel, the sisters' mother
Diana seems quite unsympathetic, but as the narrative unfolds, little by little
we begin to understand her. When writing, did you find that characters
surprised you, as Diana does the readers?

Absolutely. My characters always surprise me and lead me
by the hand through the story. I try to make people as rounded and realistic as
possible. Human beings aren’t either heroes or villains – there’s more than one
side to everybody. Everyone has their struggles too and I like to explore them
if I can.

5) One of the things that makes Not Quite
Perfect unique, is the use of the present tense throughout the entire
novel. Was this a conscious decision and what impact do you think it has?

I have to come clean and say that it wasn’t a conscious
decision. It was the first book I’d ever written and it just flowed in that way
but it works for me. I hadn’t really considered what impact this has but
looking at it now, it probably brings more of an immediacy to the story which
flits quite quickly between the sisters and takes place over a relatively short
period of time.I think a few people
have found it unusual but most don’t seem to mind and some love it!

6) And finally, can you tell us about any other projects that you're
currently working on?

I have been doing lots of fab interviews and writing blog
articles for this fantastic tour to talk about Not Quite Perfect and my new book, Dear Lizzie. It’s been a blast – bloggers are an amazing,
dedicated bunch – I salute you all!

I also have a new character nagging at my brain and an empty
notebook to fill over the summer holidays in preparation for starting my new
book in September. I’m quite excited about this one…

Does that sound suitably mysterious? I would tell you more
if I could!

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About Me

Ali Williams grew up in Croydon and spent her teenage years in a convent
girls' school. She then fled to university where she discovered
champagne cocktails, a capella singing and erotica.

These days she blogs
about perceptions of romance, chick lit and women in society and spends
an extraordinary amount of time coercing male friends to pose with her
favourite Mills & Boon books to the bemusement of the Twittersphere.